PLANT-MICROBIAL INTERACTIONS IN THE ASSISTED BIOREMEDIATION OF A PETROLEUM HYDROCARBON-POLLUTED SOIL AFTER BIOAUGMENTATION WITH PLEUROTUS TUBERREGIUM

The plant-microbial interactions in the assisted bioremediation of a petroleum hydrocarbon-polluted soil after bioaugmentation with Pleurotus tuberregium were investigated. Top soils collected from fallow plot on campus University Benin, Nigeria. A list all weeds growing was taken, bid to determine seeds bank (Table 2). then polluted different concentrations waste engine oil (1.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0% w/w soil) weight basis. left for five months (SPi). unpolluted (0 %) designated as control experiment. Result shows that concentration Mn prior augmentation experiment (5MAP) 28.5mg/kg against 29.6mg/kg 30.8 mg/kg weeded unweeded bioaugmented treatments respectively. There significant reductions content Zn at 10 MAA. buckets ranged 12.2 – 36.9 compared 10.6 weeds. Concentration Ni 2.52 4.12mg/kg 5 MAP 0.72 1.15 0.07 0.13mg/kg bioaugmentation. Hydrocarbon degrading bacteria count SP0 1.81 x105 cfu/g presence weed (WW) 1.65 absence (NW) whereas SPA0 2.65 2.04 (NW). total fungi SP5 1.64 0.80 no pollution even SPA5 2.08 1.22 ten month (10MAB) most dominant Clostridium sp. while less Bacillus subtilis. For Aspergillus niger flavus least.